North East 400 kV Overhead Line Reinforcement Works Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report September 2018 CONTENTS GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 1. INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 The Proposals 7 1.2 The Regulations 7 1.3 Scoping Briefing Note 8 1.4 Purpose of the EIA Scoping Report 8 1.5 Scoping Report Methodology 9 1.6 Previous Environmental Assessment 9 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 10 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 Construction Programme 11 2.3 Construction Environmental Management 11 2.4 Enabling Works 11 2.5 Re-conductoring Works 12 2.6 Replacement of Insulators and Fittings 13 2.7 Conductor Clipping In 14 2.8 Scaffolds and Crossings 14 2.9 Traffic Management 15 2.10 Mobile Security 15 2.11 Reconfiguration of OHL at Keith 15 2.12 Substation Tie-ins 19 2.13 Reinstatement 19 2.14 Construction Employment and Hours of Work 20 2.15 Operation and Maintenance of the Transmission Overhead Line 20 3. METHODOLOGY 21 3.1 Introduction 21 3.2 Structure of the EIA Report 21 3.3 Scoping Methodology 22 4. LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND VISUAL IMPACT 23 4.1 Introduction 23 4.2 Baseline Conditions 23 4.3 Potential for Significant Effects 24 4.4 Proposed Scope of Assessment 25 4.5 Issues Scoped Out 25 4.6 Assessment Methodology 25 4.7 Summary 26 5. ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY AND NATURE CONSERVATION 27 5.1 Introduction 27 5.2 Baseline Conditions 27 5.3 Potential for Significant Effects 28 5.4 Proposed Scope of Assessment 28 5.5 Issues Scoped Out 28 5.6 Assessment Methodology 29 5.7 Summary 29 6. ORNITHOLOGY 30 6.1 Introduction 30 6.2 Baseline Conditions 30 6.3 Potential for Significant Effects 30 6.4 Proposed Scope of Assessment 30 6.5 Issues Scoped Out 31 6.6 Assessment Methodology 31 North East 400 kV Overhead Line Reinforcement Works Page 1 Scoping Report September 2018 6.7 Summary 31 7. CULTURAL HERITAGE 32 7.1 Introduction 32 7.2 Baseline 32 7.3 Potential for Significant Effects 32 7.4 Proposed Scope of Assessment 33 7.5 Issues Scoped Out 33 7.6 Summary 33 8. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT 34 8.1 Introduction 34 8.2 Baseline 34 8.3 Potential for Significant Effects 34 8.4 Proposed Scope of Assessment 34 8.5 Issues Scoped Out 35 8.6 Assessment Methodology 35 8.7 Summary 35 9. HYDROLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY, GEOLOGY AND SOILS 36 9.1 Introduction 36 9.2 Baseline 36 9.3 Potential for Significant Effects 36 9.4 Proposed Scope of Assessment 36 9.5 Issues Scoped Out 37 9.6 Assessment Methodology 37 9.7 Summary 38 10. POPULATION AND HUMAN HEALTH 39 10.1 Introduction 39 10.2 Baseline Conditions 39 10.3 Potential for Significant Effects 40 10.4 Issues Scoped Out 40 10.5 Assessment Methodology 41 10.6 Summary 42 11. ISSUES SCOPED OUT OF EIA 43 11.2 Land Use 43 11.3 Recreation and Tourism 43 11.4 Air Quality and Climate Change 44 11.5 Accidents and Disasters 44 11.6 Socio-economics 45 11.7 Forestry 46 12. SUMMARY OF SCOPING 47 13. NEXT STEPS 48 Appendices Appendix 2.1: Site Context Photographs Appendix 2.2: Relevant SHE Transmission General Environmental Management Plans (GEMPs) and Species Protection Plans (SPPs) Figures Figure 1.1: Location Plan and Overview Figure 2.1 (a to c): Environmental Constraints North East 400 kV Overhead Line Reinforcement Works Page 2 Scoping Report September 2018 GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS 33 kV 33 kilovolt (33,000 volt) operating voltage electrical circuit 132 kV 132 kilovolt (132,000 volt) operating voltage electrical circuit 275 kV 275 kilovolt (275,000 volt) operating voltage electrical circuit 400 kV 400 kilovolt (400,000 volt) operating voltage electrical circuit AAAC All Aluminium Alloy Conductor ACSR Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced ATV All-terrain Vehicle AWI Ancient Woodland Inventory BGL Below Ground Level BGS British Geological Survey CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan CHMP Cultural Heritage Management Plan CIEEM Chartered Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management CIRIA Construction Industry Research and Information Association CTMP Construction Traffic Management Plan CVIA Cumulative Visual Impact Assessment DTI Department of Trade and Industry DWPA Drinking Water Protection Area EC European Commission ECIA Ecological Impact Assessment ECoW Ecological Clerk of Works ECU Energy Consents Unit EIA Environmental Impact Assessment. A formal process codified by EU directive 2011/92/EU, and subsequently amended by Directive 2014/52/EU. The national regulations are set out in The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017. The EIA process is set out in regulation 4(1) of the regulations and includes the preparation of an EIA Report by the developer to systematically identify, predict, assess and report on the likely significant environmental impacts of a proposed project or development. EMF Electromagnetic Field ENA Energy Networks Association EPZ Equipotential Zone ES Environmental Statement EU European Union FRA Flood Risk Assessment North East 400 kV Overhead Line Reinforcement Works Page 3 Scoping Report September 2018 GDL Garden and Designed Landscape, as listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes held by Historic Environment Scotland GEMP General Environmental Management Plan GIS Gas Insulated Switchgear GVLIA3 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition GW Gigawatt GWDTE Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems HES Historic Environment Scotland HESPS Historic Environment Scotland Policy Statement HSI Habitat Suitability Index HVDC High Voltage Direct Current ICNRIP International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection IEMA Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee LCT Landscape Character Type LF Low Frequency LVIA Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment MW Megawatt NETS SQSS National Electricity Transmission System Security and Quality of Supply Standards NVZ Nitrate Vulnerable Zone OHL Overhead Line. An electric line installed above ground, usually supported by lattice steel towers or wooden poles. OPGW Optical Ground Wire OS Ordnance Survey PAN Planning Advice Note Planning Application An application for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 Proposed Development The Proposed Development is taken to be the description of: the location of the development; the physical characteristics of the OHL, proposed access arrangements and any associated construction activities and land-use requirements. PWS Private Water Supply SAC Special Area of Conservation – designated under Directive 92/42/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (known as – The Habitats Directive) Section 37 An application for development consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 SBN Scoping Briefing Note North East 400 kV Overhead Line Reinforcement Works Page 4 Scoping Report September 2018 SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency SHE Transmission Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc – part of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, and the transmission licence holder for the transmission of electricity in the north of Scotland SLA Special Landscape Area SNAWI Semi-natural Ancient Woodland Inventory SNH Scottish Natural Heritage SPA Special Protection Area – designated under Directive 2009/147/EC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the Birds Directive) SPP Scottish Planning Policy SPPs Species Protection Plans SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest – designated by SNH under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 SuDS Sustainable Drainage System UHF Ultra-high Frequency VHF Very High Frequency ZTV Zone of Theoretical Visibility – the computer generated theoretical visibility of an object in the landscape North East 400 kV Overhead Line Reinforcement Works Page 5 Scoping Report September 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (SHE Transmission) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the SSE plc group of companies. SHE Transmission, hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’ holds a licence under the Electricity Act 1989 (the Electricity Act) for the transmission of electricity in the north of Scotland, and has a statutory duty under Section 9 of the Electricity Act to develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical electrical transmission system in its licence area. The Applicant is proposing to submit an application for consent to reinforce the existing 275 kV overhead line (OHL) connecting substations at Blackhillock, Kintore and Peterhead to enable operation at 400 kV. This would involve re-insulating and re-conductoring the OHL, replacement of the existing earthwire with an equivalent Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), and reconfiguration of the OHL on the outskirts of Keith. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), supported by appropriate surveys and specialist assessments, will be carried out to inform an EIA Report. This will form part of an application to Scottish Ministers under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 for permission to construct the project. This Scoping Report is provided to support a formal request under Regulation 12 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 by the Applicant for a Scoping Opinion to determine the information to be provided within the EIA Report. The Applicant invites consultees to comment on the following: What environmental information do you hold or are aware of that will assist in the EIA described here? Do you agree with the proposed approach for baseline collection, prediction and significance assessment? Are there